MANY HAPPY RETURNS

[Joxcenia]

Whoosh! Episode Page

Whoosh! Episode Transcript Page

---

Found this at Whoosh:
Last Chance

Last Chance

[eli]

Some very funny scenes.Oh,and I like the jokes between xena and gab ;D

[xengab]

Loved this episode,the poem scene at the end,was wonderfully done

[Lishesque]

One of my favorites simply because of the beautiful ending. Flying off into the sunset... I'll always see that scene in my mind's eye when I think of how the show ended.

I liked how they included Sappho:

"There's a moment when I look at you
And no speech is left in me.
My tongue breaks.
Then fire races under my skin and I tremble.
And grow pale for I am dying of such love
Or so it seems to me."

I've read some of Sappho's fragments and this is very like the style she wrote in. Does anyone know if this is part of a real Sappho poem? Or is it made up?

[Joxcenia]

I googled and found the poem it was based on some time back and posted the link either in a thread on this board or on the old board. Don't know where I found it now though...

[ilb]

i loved this one except for the last hug between
xena and gabby....it was soooooo weak!!!

[Joxcenia]

I haven't found where I posted the info I gathered once upon a time... but you might find what you're looking for in a google search:

GoogleUS: Sappho+Poem+My tongue breaks

[ilb]

actually i seem to recall reading it somewhere...
thanks joxcee.

[Evergreen]

Lisheque: I am reading this thread late but have an answer to your question. Yes, the poem at the end of MHR is based upon a Sappho poem. The actual translation is:

Peer of the gods,the happiest of man I seem.
Sitting before thee, rapt at thy sight,hearing thy
Soft laughter and thy voice most gentle,
Speaking sweetly.

Then in my bosom my heart wildly flutters,
And when on thee I gaze never so little,
Bereft am I of all power of utterance,
My tongue is useless.

There rushes at once through my flesh tingling fire,
My eyes are deprived of all power of vision,
My ears hear nothing by sounds of winds roaring,
And all is blackness.

Down courses in streams the sweat of emotion,
A dread trembling o'erwhelms me, paler than I
Than dried grass in autumn,and in my madness
Dead I almost seem.

I hope this puts this question to rest. I too think this was one of the most beautiful moments in Xena, and for me, was the ending. And for us subtexters as maintext, well, it says it all.

EG

[Lishesque]

After reading that I've realised I've read the Sappho poem that it's based on before. I just never connected the dots. And the translation you posted is one of the better ones I've seen. *copies and saves* Thank you.